Jackson woman who saved pit bull faces charges in Clinton

In the photo, the 6-year-old dog is wearing a princess tiara and a pink lei. Her long tongue dangles out of her mouth.

Her Facebook page is called Fat Penny, and throughout the day on Monday the likes steadily increased as her story spread. The pit bull's fans are happy the dog was returned to foster owner Leah Thomson.

Penny the dog has lived many places in her life. Tied to a light post, in foster homes and most recently at the Mississippi Animal Rescue League after being picked up by animal control in Clinton. Thomson, who lives in Jackson, was cited for harboring a vicious animal after she left the dog in Clinton to recover from a dog attack in April.

"Pit bulls are a banned breed," said Capt. George Rush with the Clinton Police Department. The city is among 29 municipalities and counties in Mississippi that have some ordinance or restriction on pit bulls and 11 that ban the breed altogether.

Thomson was cited because she claimed possession of the dog, and it was her decision to bring the dog into Clinton, Rush said. Typically, when a pit bull is found in Clinton, an animal control officer picks the dog up and it's held at the Mississippi Animal Rescue League until the court makes a decision in the case. Usually that means ordering the dog out of Clinton.

Thomson was allowed to pick Penny up from the shelter, and now the dog is in an undisclosed location in fear the dog will be picked up by animal control again. The animal control officer in question, Randy Moore, was not available for comment Monday.

It's unclear how authorities learned Penny was in Clinton.

Thomson, an alcohol and addiction counselor, only takes in dogs that have the temperament to become therapy dogs. She has fostered and rehabilitated more than 30 dogs. She took Penny in at the end of March.

It was the latest stop for Penny, who was found about four years ago tied to a light post emaciated and covered with fleas and ticks. The person who found Penny took her in, fattened her up and the dog was adopted.

"While for most adopted pets this would be the start of their happily ever after, it was not for Penny," Thomson said. "No one knows what really went on between that time and when Penny had to be re-rescued, but what we do know is from that point forward Penny has gone through absolute hell."

After Penny was re-rescued, she lived with a foster family before she found her way to Thomson. Knowing Fat Penny was a little too fat, Thomson started bringing the dog on daily 6 a.m. runs with two other dogs. One April morning Penny was about 4 feet behind the pack when she was attacked by an unleashed dog. According to Thomson, the dog latched onto Penny's neck and was trying to rip her to shreds.

"Penny did not fight back," Thomson said. "Penny laid in the middle of the road with desperation in her eyes."

Another one of Thomson's dogs fought back against the unleashed dog and was also injured in the attack. Penny spent the next two weeks at the vet. Turns out Fat Penny's fat helped save her life. The veterinarian told Thomson the excess fat around the neck likely saved the dog. After leaving the vet Penny needed a place to relax and heal, which is how she ended up in Clinton.

Thomson said she knows she took a risk when she took Penny to Clinton. She'll appear in court on Aug. 13. "The worst that would happen is that I will pay a $200 fine, but all of this mess is worth it, knowing Penny is safe and alive."